Ностромо
Chapter 8
Butyouobservethereisnotagleamtoshowuswheresheis.”
Decoudstoodasifparalyzed;onlyhisthoughtswerewildlyactive.InthespaceofasecondherememberedthedesolateglanceofAntoniaasheleftheratthebedsideofherfatherinthegloomyhouseofAvellanos,withshutteredwindows,butallthedoorsstandingopen,anddesertedbyalltheservantsexceptanoldnegroatthegate.HerememberedtheCasaGouldonhislastvisit,thearguments,thetonesofhisvoice,theimpenetrableattitudeofCharles,Mrs.Gould’sfacesoblanchedwithanxietyandfatiguethathereyesseemedtohavechangedcolour,appearingnearlyblackbycontrast.EvenwholesentencesoftheproclamationwhichhemeanttomakeBarriosissuefromhisheadquartersatCaytaassoonashegottherepassedthroughhismind;theverygermofthenewState,theSeparationistproclamationwhichhehadtriedbeforehelefttoreadhurriedlytoDonJose,stretchedoutonhisbedunderthefixedgazeofhisdaughter.Godknowswhethertheoldstatesmanhadunderstoodit;hewasunabletospeak,buthehadcertainlyliftedhisarmoffthecoverlet;hishandhadmovedasiftomakethesignofthecrossintheair,agestureofblessing,ofconsent.Decoudhadthatverydraftinhispocket,writteninpencilonseveralloosesheetsofpaper,withtheheavily-printedheading,“AdministrationoftheSanTomeSilverMine.Sulaco.RepublicofCostaguana.”Hehadwrittenitfuriously,snatchingpageafterpageonCharlesGould’stable.Mrs.
